Kid's lips pulled up into a smug grin. "Now, if you wouldn't mind coming back to Gallows Manner, I have something else planned for tonight," he informed you.
'Something else?' you wondered; you grinned at the handsome Reaper. "You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" you questioned rhetorically and hooked your arm around his elbow and began walking back to his place together.
A chuckle escaped his lips. "It's nothing much. I just thought it'd be nice to watch a movie after dinner. What kind of movie would you like to watch?"
You shrugged. "I dunno, any type, I guess. What's your favorite movie?" you asked, eyeing his perfect face - he was focusing on the symmetrical bed of pink and crimson flowers by the road.
His eyes turned back to meet yours, and he blushed slightly. "I-it's really cliche..." he admitted. You rolled your eyes at this comment and asked again.
He gazed off into the distance where the buildings ended and opened up to the outskirts of the city where Gallows Manner awaited. "Romeo and Juliet," he said thoughtfully.
You giggled and agreed, walking the rest of the way in silence.
"Where are the movies?" you wondered aloud, searching around the large living room for the DVD cases. You turned to Kid, who was hanging his jacket on a golden coat hanger by the door.
He laughed, as if there were an inside joke you didn't get, and he walked over to the TV and turned the power on. "Everything's on Netflix. Liz and Patty wouldn't let me buy two copies of every movie just to make the bookshelf symmetrical." He rolled his eyes.
You looked over to the bookshelf on the wall, where the shelves held dozens of framed pictures - some in old-fashioned black and white, or yellowed with age, and some more recent. And (of course) the ones on the sides were photoshopped to be mirrored so that the shelf would be symmetrical. Ha ha.
You studied the images in the frames, recognizing Maka, Soul, Black*Star and some other students in a few of the photos, but there were a few people that you've never met. Your eyes drifted around to a silver-framed picture - the photo had a faint yellow tint and the colors were faded some , but you could still clearly see Lord Death, a happy expression on his mask. In his giant, gloved hands sat a younger Kid, around the age of three. Kid's arms were wrapped around the neck of a beautiful young woman who stood next to Death.
Her hair, in loose black curls, cascaded down her shoulders, and her bright yellow eyes - an exact replica of Kid's, you noticed - were sparkling on her smiling face. They all seemed very happy as they smiled through the glass of the frame at you, although you know they were just a picture.
You lifted the picture and turned to Kid, your eyes still resting on the young woman. "Kid, is... is this your mom?" You studied the features on her pretty face with searching eyes; the resemblance was uncanny.
He looked up from the remote to find you holding the keepsake family photo, and he rose from his seat on the couch. "Yes," he answered, slowly walking over to where you stood.
You smiled a little. "She's very pretty... You have her eyes." You looked up into the yellow and gold irises that were Kid's; his eyes were fixed on the woman that smiled out at you.
"She was beautiful, wasn't she?" he whispered in a sigh and took the picture to set it back on the shelf in its place.
Kid went back to finding the movie in the long list of favorited films on Netflix, his expression blank.
"Was...? Where is she now?" your eyes pulled together in curiosity and worry and you sat down next to him on the black, leather sofa, your eyes on him. You tried deciphering his unreadable face.
"Dead." His voice was distant and blunt, but you could hear the sadness in it when he spoke.
"O-oh, Kid... I'm so sorry," you sympathized. "W-what happened?"
He sighed in a shakey breath and looked down. "House fire." You could see his fists clench in remembrance at the bad memory. "I was in my room - only three - and I can still clearly hear her screams when I sleep. Father only had enough time to save me..."
You rubbed his back and took the remote from him and sat it down (for two reasons: one, so he wouldn't break the remote in his death grip, and, two, to hold his hand.)
"It didn't help that it was all over the news and in the papers for months afterwards. I... I couldn't escape it..." Tears were welling in his eyes and he dropped his head into his hands. "I couldn't help her..."
Your heart shattered at the sight of him like this, crying and beating himself up with guilt; you could tell this had been eating away at him for years.
"It's not your fault, Kid. I'm sure your father tried," you crooned. "At least you're alive; it's what she would've wanted... And I don't know where I would be now if you haden't found me in that blizzard when you did. I'm glad you're here."
He took a deep breath and tried to compose himself. "I-I'm sorry. I'm ruining the evening, aren't I?" He forced a smile, his eyes red around the rims from the tears. "Let's start the movie..." he reached for the remote.
"No, it's alright. I'm not really in the mood for a movie," you admitted, pushing the remote away. You yawned hugely and suddenly felt the events of the day taking a toll on your body. You shoulders slumped and you leaned back against the sofa.
Kid laughed. "You're tired... here." He put his arm around you and let you lean your head on his shoulder.
You scowled at the wall. "I'm not tired!" you stated matter-of-factly, though you let yourself get comfortable, resting your head on his chest.
"Is that so?" he teased, cupping your cheek in his hand to move your face in front of his.
Your eyebrows pulled together and you pouted at Death the Kid. "I'm not..." you tried to persuade him, but then you just had to yawn again. "I'm not tired..."
He smirked. "I think you are." He closed the distance between your lips, enveloping them in a soft kiss so you couldn't talk back, but you didn't mind. You eagerly sank your lips into his, your heart beating like a drum in your chest. He let out a sigh and ended the kiss, wrapping an arm around your waist.
"Now, get some rest," he ordered, sounding tired himself.
You complied and let your eyes close, your mind slipping into a deep, well-needed sleep.
~ALEXUS'S DREAM (narrator POV)~
Alexus slowly rose off the couch, her body stiff from sleeping on the couch. She looked down at the dress from the date last night, which still clothed her body.
'Where's Kid...?' she thought, walking around the familar living room that belonged to Gallow's Manor. She drearily approached the bookcase, grinning at the pictures of Kid and his friends and family. Alexus recognized the faces of Lord Death, Kid, Maka, Kid's mother... she took a few more steps towards the frames to get a better look, and the whole bookcase burst into flames.
Alexus let out a sharp gasp and fell back, wide eyed at the unexplainable combustion. She glanced around her at the rest of the room, and everything was being devoured by the demonic flames. A loud shriek ripped through the air around her, then a more familiar voice screamed, both coming from different directions.
"Kid!" she yelled, following the voice through the halls. She ran and ran, not knowing her way around; the only thing guiding her was the hoarse voice of Kid in pain. The flames chased her through the halls, nipping at her heels and licking her arms in waves of heat and pain, but she ignored it. She had to get to Kid.
She opened a door quickly and stumbled in, hoping to avoid the flames. The door slammed shut and she spun around to face the room. A flash of light streaked in front of her - the glow of a human turning into weapon form. A shadowy figure caught the glowing knife blade, grasping it, ready to attack. In the other hand of the figure was Kid, looking just like he did when Stein had abducted him - deathly frail and bleeding.
"Hello, sister," the voice croaked, a sadistic smile glowing through the shadows.
"DUFF! Let go of him!" The walls began slowly catching fire, trapping you in this room of torture. Alexus' sister ignored the pleading shrieks and stabbed Kid right through the heart, crimson blood spotting the ground and soaking Kid's clothes. "KID!!" Tears flowed uncontrollably down Alexus's cheeks, and Duff's laughter broke through the air. Other voices, too, began joining in on the chorus of laughter at her pain. The flames licked away at her body, though she did not feel them, nor did she care.
"Someone kill me now, just end this pain, I can't take it, this is all my fault, Duff, I hate you... why?"
~Waking world (End POV)~
"KID!" Your body shot upright and you clutched at the blanket at your sides. Sweat covered your forehead and your breathing was fast and hard.
"Alexus!" Kid stormed into the room, frantically looking around the room for any signs of danger. He rushed over to you and embraced you in a tight, reassuring hug. "Are you alright?"
You began to assess your surroundings, and saw you were in Kid's living room, lying on his couch with a large, soft blanket over your body. Light poured in through the cracks in the blinds that covered the nearest window, and Kid was still in his pajamas - gray boxers and a black tee-shirt.
Your breathing slowed and you returned his hug, a warm tear streaking down your cheek. "K-Kid... I love you..." You clenched his shirt in your fists and buried your face in his shoulder, squeezing him tighter.
He ran his fingers through your hair to calm you. "I love you, too..." he reassured. "What's the matter? Why are you crying?" He asked in a deep voice, still half-asleep.
The dream replayed in your mind and the tears fell faster, making your eyes red. "I... I... I h-had a bad d-... dream..." you choked out between sobs.
He sighed, relieved that you weren't hurt, and rubbed your back. "It's okay, love. It was just a dream... you'll be alright."
You sighed and relaxed in his arms, happy that he was safe.
